Where Is My Third Eye?

Open your Third Eye? What on earth is your yoga teacher talking about? Like most people, when you look in the mirror, you probably only see two eyes staring back at you. So where is this third eye, and how and why do we want to open it?

Of course, like so many things in yoga, the Third Eye is metaphorical.

That means it symbolizes an abstract idea. But if we want to give it a physical location, this symbolic Third Eye is exactly where you might imagine it to be—right between your eyebrows.

right between your eyebrows.

In the yogic tradition, we learn about the seven chakras.

Chakras, briefly speaking, are centers of energy that run from the base of the spine to the top of the head.  The Third Eye is the second from the top and is considered the sixth chakra. It is known as Ajna in Sanskrit, and its associated color is indigo. In yogic philosophy, the Third Eye is connected to ideas of perception, transcendence, and intuition.

We think about the Third Eye as a part of Hindu and Buddhist teachings, but the idea is present in many other cultures. In fact, references to the Third Eye are found in ancient Egypt, a number of Asian traditions, and even in the ancient Americas.

In yoga, we awaken the Third Eye in meditation, by calming the mind and focusing on this spot between the eyebrows. That may sound easy, but try sitting for even a couple of minutes without getting fidgety and you might be surprised by just how difficult it is.

Yoga poses, or asana, that focus on the Third Eye include Child’s Pose, Plough Pose, and Legs up the Wall. Even Downward Dog is associated with this Chakra.

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